Every season, we take advantage of our position of having out Spring Training facilities so close (within 80 miles) by hosting a number of events there. I already chronicled the Company Meeting from Thursday. Today was an opportunity to get back on the horse and treat our partners with our annual Spring Training Party. More than 50 partners were expected to join us in Port Charlotte so we could show them a great time and just how much we appreciate their partnerships.It was catered by Outback Steakhouse, one of our partners in their own right. Charlotte Sports Park is always more than hospitable.My role for the day was as a corporate partner liaison and extra set of hands. I was asked to grab the catering from Outback early in the day, for example.

That is, until I couldn't get to Port Charlotte.

When I got just over the Sunshine Skyway headed south, my car started acting erratically and I pulled over just as I275-S merges onto I75-S in Palmetto. Both AAA and the tow truck driver agreed: sounded like my alternator had gone.

Even vehicular misery is prettier in Florida

Several hours and one tow ride later, I was paying for a new alternator and new battery. And I never made it to Port Charlotte!

But the Rays won 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th and word is that the partners were well-represented and had a great time. Go Rays!